Pepper hybrid SV3198HJ

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and theinbred pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated SV3198HJ, the pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepper lineHJA-114-1179. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV3198HJand/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and/orpepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and/orpepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper plants designated SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 andHJA-114-1179.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper linesSJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV3198HJand/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepper lineHJA-114-1179. These processes may be further exemplified as processesfor preparing hybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plantis crossed with a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotypeto provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepperline SJR-114-1020 or pepper line HJA-114-1179. In these processes,crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed productionoccurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepperlines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179. In one embodiment of the invention,pepper seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁)hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordancewith the invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid pepper plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper linesSJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepperlines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV3198HJ and/orpepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179. The plant derived fromhybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 may bean inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ, pepper lineSJR-114-1020 and pepper line HJA-114-1179.

Hybrid SV3198HJ, also known as “PX 11473198”, is a typical nachojalapeno fruit type, with a cylindrical shape, and typical smell andflavor of a nacho. It has higher yield, mainly due to more fruits perplant, than the standard O.P. variety ‘TAM Veracruz’. It has higherpungency, on average 60% higher, than the hybrid ‘Ballpark’. This hybridis grown primarily in the U.S. and Mexico for harvest as fresh greenfruits. It exhibits excellent processed fruit quality due to its uniformfruit size and shape. The fruits average 11.8 cm long×2.8 cm wide, andweigh an average of 28 g. Immature color is a medium dark green, andfruits mature to red. Fruit pungency was measured by HPLC using fruitgrown in Woodland during the summer of Year 14 growing season at 751Scoville Heat Units (fresh basis). It has higher yield (1024.8 g/plant,compared to the hybrid ‘Ballpark’ at 648.5 g/plant) mainly due to highernumber of fruits/plant (31 vs 22). Fruit weight was slightly more thanthe hybrid ‘Ballpark’ (29.8 g vs 24.9 g). Plant height averaged 100 cm,with a semi-spreading plant habit. It matures to green in approximately85 days after transplanting, compared to 89 days for the standard O.P.variety ‘TAM Veracruz’. SV3198HJ is resistant to bacterial spot races 1,2, and 3, (carries Bs2 gene) while ‘TAM Veracruz’ is susceptible (doesnot carry Bs2 gene). SV3198HJ is well-adapted to many pepper growingareas of Mexico and the U.S., with excellent processed (pickled) fruitquality.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid SV3198HJ

The parents of hybrid SV3198HJ are SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179. Theseparents were created as follows:

This variety was created by crossing SJR-114-1020 to HJA-114-1179 in thespring of Year 9 crossing block (shown January 5 of Year 9). Seeds wereharvested from the female on or around June 25 of Year 9. Hybrid wasfirst tested in Seminis Woodland field during the summer of Year 10.

Parent line SJR-114-1020, also known as “SJR 114-1020”, was developed atSeminis's France molecular biology lab. Parent line SJR-114-1020 wasdeveloped by doubling haploids from the cross HP 438×HP 240. HP 438 wasdeveloped by backcrossing resistance to Bs2 into the O.P. line “TAMJalapeno”. HP 240 is a pure line selection derived from the O.P. line“Baxter Sweet Jalapeno”. Both TAM Jalapeno and Baxter Sweet Jalapenowere obtained from a university cooperator.

Twenty doubled haploid plants from the cross HP 438×HP 240 were receivedin Year 1. One plant, designated DH_(—)15_Bs2R, was selected as beingpure and designated SJR-114-1020. Seed of SJR-114-1020 was given toSeminis' Foundation Seed (FS) division in July of Year 5. Subsequentincreases of SJR-114-1020 trace back to this plant.

April of Year 10 Planted 100 plants of SJR-114-1020 in the field at CAWOas an observation plot.

Observations during the growing season confirmed SJR-114-1020 is uniformand stable

Parent line HJA-114-1179 was developed at Seminis's Northern Californiabreeding station at Woodland, Calif. (CAWO), Seminis's Florida breedingstation at Felda (FLFE), and Seminis's Guatemala breeding station atSalama (GUSA). Parent line HJA-114-1179 was developed by pure lineselection from the cross TAM Jalapeno//Durkee Cayenne/Pasilla Bajio.Durkee Cayenne is an O.P. variety obtained from Durkee Spice Co. in1986. Pasilla Bajio is an O.P. variety sold by Petoseed Seed Co.,originally tested as PX 65485.

The selections from the cross Durkee Cayenne×Pasilla Bajio were made asfollows:

November of Year 2: Planted the F1 cross Durkee Cayenne×Pasilla Bajio inthe open field at Salama, Guatemala. Selfed 2 individual F1 plants.

July of Year 3: Planted 100 F2 plants in the open field at FLFE.Selected 22 individual F2 plants.

April of Year 4: Planted 22 F3 lines in the field at CAWO. Selected 11individual F3 plants.

January of Year 5: Planted 11 F4 lines in the field at FLFE. Selected 4individual F4 plants.

July of Year 5: Planted 4 F5 lines in the field at FLFE. Selected 4individual F5 plants.

January of Year 6: Planted 4 F6 lines in the greenhouse at CAWO.Selected 2 individual plants and crossed them to TAM Jalapeno. Theselections of the cross TAM Jalapeno//Durkee Cayenne/Pasilla Bajio weremade as follows:

July of Year 6: Planted the F1 cross in the open field at FLFE. Selfed 1F1 plant.

January of Year 7: Planted 100 F2 plants in the open field at FLFE.Selected 5 individual F2 plants.

July of Year 7: Planted 5 F3 lines in the field at FLFE. Selected 5individual F3 plants.

April of Year 8: Planted 5 F4 lines in the field at CAWO. Selected 4individual F4 plants.

January of Year 9: Planted 4 F5 lines in the greenhouse at CAWO andcrossed each one to SJR-114-1020. One plant, designated 0701-1617, wasselected as being pure and designated HJA-114-1179. Seed of HJA-114-1179was given to Seminis' Foundation Seed (FS) division in August of 2010.Subsequent increases of HJA-114-1179 trace back to this plant.

January of Year 11: Planted 100 plants of HJA-114-1179 in the field atFLFE as an observation plot.

Observations during the growing season confirmed HJA-114-1179 is uniformand stable.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper HybridSV3198HJ, Pepper Line SJR-114-1020 and Pepper Line HJA-114-1179

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV3198HJ Comparison Variety - TAM Characteristic SV3198HJ VERA CRUZ 1.Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability)days from transplanting 48 60   until mature green stage days fromtransplanting 109  102    until mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding 87 99   until mature green stage days from direct seeding148  143    until mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compactcompact attitude upright/erect upright/erect (De Cayenne, Doux très longdes Landes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 58.4 cm 34.7 cm plant width51.7 cm 42.0 cm length of stem from 20.8 cm 17.4 cm cotyledon to firstflower length of the third inter- 112.2 mm 101.5 mm node (from soilsurface) length of stem medium medium (Belsir, Lamuyo) shortenedinternode (in present absent upper part) (Fehér, Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai702) number of internodes be- one to three more than three tween thefirst flower and (Fehér) the shortened internodes stem: hairiness ofnodes weak weak (Andevalo, Clovis) height medium medium (HRF) basalbranches none few (2-3) branch flexibility willowy (Cayenne willowy LongRed) stem strength (breakage strong strong resistance) 4. Leaf length ofblade long long (Cupido, Dolmy, Encore, Mazurka, Monte) width of blademedium medium (Albaregia, Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 59.7mm 54.4 mm length 110.03 mm 113.5 mm petiole length 59.2 mm 46.7 mmcolor dark green dark green color (RHS color chart) 137A 147A intensityof green color dark (Dolmy, Tinto) dark mature leaf shape ovatelanceolate (Balico, Sonar) leaf and stem pubescence absent absentundulation of margin very weak weak blistering very weak weak profile incross section strongly concave moderately (Slávy) concave glossinessweak medium (De Cayenne, Doux très long des Landes) 5. Flower peduncle:attitude semi-drooping semi-drooping (Blondy) flowers per leaf axil  1.1 1.1 calyx lobes   6.6 5.7 petals   6.3 6.4 diameter 24.7 mm 24.3mm corolla color white white corolla throat markings yellow yellowanther color purple purple style length exceeds stamen exceeds stamenself-incompatibility present present 6. Fruit group Small Hot (Serrano)Jalapeno color (before maturity) green (California green Wonder, Lamuyo)intensity of color (before dark dark maturity) immature fruit color darkgreen dark green immature fruit color 137A 144A (RHS color chart)attitude/position drooping/pendent drooping/pendent (De Cayenne, Lamuyo)length long medium (Doux d'Espagne, Majister) diameter medium medium(Doux italien, Corno di toro) ratio length/diameter large large (Heldor,Lamuyo, Magister, Tenno, Vidi) calyx diameter 22.3 mm 18.9 mm fruitlength 116.2 mm 72.1 mm fruit diameter at calyx 23.4 mm 23.7 mmattachment fruit diameter at mid- 28.6 mm 27.7 mm point flesh thicknessat mid- 4.2 mm 3.8 mm point average number of fruits 34 40.3  per plant% large fruits 15(weight range: 15.10% (weight 36 to 65 g) range 21 to40 g) % medium fruits 41.10% (weight 57.10% (weight range: 20 to 35 g)range 11 to 20 g) % small fruits 43.80% (weight 27.60% (weight range: 1to 19 g) range 1 to 10 g) average fruit weight 24.2 gm 17.5 gm fruitshape (longitudinal narrowly triangular narrowly section) (De Cayenne,triangular Demon) fruit shape (cross section, circular circular at levelof placenta) (Cherry Sweet, Doux très long des Landes) sinuation ofpericarp at absent or very weak absent or very basal part (Delphin,Kalocsai weak V-2, Milord) sinuation of pericarp absent or very weakabsent or very excluding basal part (Delphin, Milord) weak texture ofsurface smooth or very smooth or very slightly wrinkled slightlywrinkled (Milord) color (at maturity) red red (Fehér, Lamuyo) intensityof color (at dark dark maturity) mature fruit color red red mature fruitcolor (RHS  46A  46A color chart) glossiness strong shiny (Doux italien,Trophy) stalk cavity absent absent (Corinto, Corno di toro, Sweetbanana, Sucette de Provence) pedicel length 32.2 mm 20.1 mm pedicelthickness 4.4 mm 4.3 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavityabsent absent stalk: length medium medium (Fehér, Sonar) stalk:thickness medium medium (Doux italien, Surpas) base shape roundedrounded shape of apex moderately acute moderately acute shape Oblong(Jalapeno) Oblong (Jalapeno) set concentrated scattered depth ofinterloculary absent absent grooves (De Cayenne) number of loculespredominantly three equally three or (Century) four % fruits with onelocule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules 30%  0% % fruits with threelocules 70%  40%  % fruits with four locules 0% 60%  % fruits with fivelocules 0% 0% average number of locules   2.7 3.6 thickness of fleshthick medium (Andevalo, Bingor, Daniel, Topgirl) calyx: aspectenveloping (cup- enveloping (cup- shaped) shaped) (De Cayenne, Sweetbanana) pungency hot hot capsaicin in placenta present (De presentCayenne) mg capsaicin per gram dry 0.78 mg 0.62 mg fruit Scoville Units(dry fruit) 11,505    8,359    flavor strong pepper flavor strong pepperflavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 98.2 mm seedcavity diameter 18.1 mm 19.2 mm placenta length 70.7 mm 41.5 mm numberof seeds per fruit   87.5 64   grams per 1000 seeds 6 gm 4 gm coloryellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration of: seedling hypocotyl moderatemoderate stem moderate strong coloration of nodes strong strong(California wonder) intensity of anthocyanin strong very strongcoloration of nodes (Piquant d'Algérie, Zarai) leaf absent absentpedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo)present fruit anthocyanin strong absent coloration (Alabástrom, Purplebeauty, Violette) beginning of flowering (1^(st) late late flower on2^(nd) flowering (Daniel, Piquant node) d'Algérie, Zingaro) time ofmaturity very late late (Cancun, California wonder) *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSJR-114-1020 CHARACTERISTIC SJR-114-1020 HJA 960-0008 1. Species C.annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 84  81  mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 119  100  mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding 115 118  until mature green stage days from direct seeding un- 150  137  tilmature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compact attitudeupright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long des Landes,Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 43.65 cm plant width 37.9 cm 38.2 cmlength of stem from 24 cm 15.75 cm cotyledon to first flower length ofthe third internode 63.9 mm 47 mm (from soil surface) length of stemlong (Lipari, Marconi, short Rouge long ordinaire) shortened internode(in present (Fehér, absent upper part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702)number of internodes more than three between the first flower and(Kalocsai 702) the shortened internodes stem: hairiness of nodes absentor very weak absent or very (Arlequin) weak height tall (Century, Orias)medium basal branches none few branch flexibility rigid (Yolo Wonder)rigid stem strength (breakage weak intermediate resistance) 4. Leaflength of blade medium (Atol, Blondy, medium Marconi, Merit, Anthea)width of blade medium (Albaregia, narrow Balaton, Danubia, Marconi,Merit) width 55.6 mm 55 mm length 103.25 mm 106.8 mm petiole length 59mm 37.5 mm color medium green medium green color (RHS Color Chart 137C137C value) intensity of green color medium (Doux très medium long desLandes, Merit) mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, ovate Recio) leafand stem pubescence absent light undulation of margin weak (Doux trèslong very weak des Landes) blistering weak (Pusztagold) weak profile incross section flat (De Cayenne, flat Recio) glossiness very weak(Diavolo) strong 5. Flower peduncle: attitude semi-drooping (Blondy)drooping flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 7 6 petals 7 6 diameter25.2 mm 22.8 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markings yellowyellow style length same as stamen exceeds stamen self-incompatibilityabsent 6. Fruit group Jalapeno (Jalapeno) Jalapeno (Jalapeno) color(before maturity) green (California green wonder, Lamuyo) intensity ofcolor (before medium dark maturity) immature fruit color medium greendark green immature fruit color (RHS 146A 137A Color Chart value)attitude/position drooping/pendent (De droop- Cayenne, Lamuyo)ing/pendent length long (Doux d'Espagne, medium Majister) diametermedium (Doux italien, narrow Corno di toro) ratio length/diameter medium(Adra, Cherry large Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) calyx diameter 18.9mm 17.9 mm fruit length 60.9 mm 68.7 mm fruit diameter at calyx 57.9 mm24.7 mm attachment fruit diameter at mid-point 30.3 mm 28.9 mm fleshthickness at mid-point 4.9 mm 4.5 mm average number of fruits per 53 47  plant % large fruits 30 (weight range: 22 (weight 20 to 29 g) range20 to 29 g) % medium fruits 52 (weight range: 68 (weight 10 to 19 g)range 10 to 19 g) % small fruits 18 (weight range: 10 (weight 1 to 9 g)range 0 to 9 g) average fruit weight 18.45 gm 14 gm fruit shape(longitudinal moderately triangular trapezoidal section) (Fehér,Marconi) fruit shape (cross section, at circular (Cherry Sweet, circularlevel of placenta) Doux très long des Landes) sinuation of pericarp atbasal absent or very weak very weak part (Delphin, Kalocsai V-2, Milord)sinuation of pericarp absent or very weak absent or very excluding basalpart (Delphin, Milord) weak texture of surface strongly wrinkled/slightly rough (Sierra Nevada) wrinkled color (at maturity) red (Fehér,Lamuyo) red intensity of color dark dark (at maturity) mature fruitcolor red red mature fruit color (RHS  46A  53A Color Chart value)glossiness medium/moderate weak (Carré doux extra hâtif, Lamuyo, Sonar)stalk cavity present (Bingor, absent Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity veryshallow (Flush, N/A Kaméleon, Niagara) pedicel length 25.6 mm 25.7 mmpedicel thickness 4.6 mm 5.3 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicelcavity absent absent stalk: length medium (Fehér, Sonar) short stalk:thickness thin (Sweet banana) medium base shape rounded rounded shape ofapex rounded (Cherry Sweet) rounded shape oblong (Jalapeno) conical(Pimento) set scattered concentrated depth of interloculary very shallowabsent grooves number of locules Predominantly one Predominantly one %fruits with one locule   68% 40% % fruits with two locules 12.00% 27% %fruits with three locules 20.00% 26% average number of locules 1 1thickness of flesh thick (Andevalo, thick Bingor, Daniel, Topgirl)calyx: aspect non-enveloping/ non- saucer-shaped enveloping/ (Lamuyo,Sonar) saucer-shaped pungency sweet hot capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) present flavor mild pepper flavor moderate pepper flavorglossiness moderate moderate 7. Seed seed cavity length 39.3 mm 55.5 mmseed cavity diameter 31.1 mm 20.3 mm placenta length 27.3 mm 28.1 mmnumber of seeds per fruit 72  100  grams per 1000 seeds 7.8 gm coloryellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration of: seedling hypocotyl weakmoderate stem weak weak node weak strong stem: intensity of antho-strong (Piquant strong cyanin coloration of nodes d'Algérie, Zarai) leafabsent absent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther absent(Danza) present fruit coloration absent (Lamuyo) absent beginning offlowering (1^(st) early (Carré doux extra late flower on 2^(nd)flowering hâtif, Cupido, Fehér, node) Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time ofmaturity very late (Cancun, late California wonder) *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineHJA-114-1179 CHARACTERISTIC HJA-114-1179 Tam Veracruz 1. Species C.annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 63   60   mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 92   102    mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding102    99   until mature green stage days from direct seeding un- 131   143    til mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 60.5 cm 34.7 cm plant width 46.7cm 42.0 cm length of stem from 20.7 cm 17.4 cm cotyledon to first flowerlength of the third internode 109.9 mm 101.5 mm (from soil surface)length of stem medium (Belsir, medium Lamuyo) shortened internode (inabsent (California absent upper part) wonder, De Cayenne) length ofinternode (on short (Bandero, short primary side shoots) Blondy,Danubia, Tenor) stem: hairiness of nodes absent or very weak weak(Arlequin) height medium (HRF) medium basal branches none few (2-3)branch flexibility willowy (Cayenne willowy Long Red) stem strength(breakage strong strong resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade short (DeCayenne, long Szentesi cseresznye) width of blade narrow (De Cayenne,medium Pusztagold, Szentesi cseresznye) width 41.4 mm 54.4 mm length69.7 mm 113.5 mm petiole length 44.7 mm 46.7 mm color dark green darkgreen color (RHS Color Chart 146A 147A value) intensity of green colordark (Dolmy, Tinto) dark mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo,lanceolate Recio) leaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulation ofmargin very weak weak blistering weak (Pusztagold) weak profile in crosssection moderately concave moderately (Doux italien, concave Favolor)glossiness medium (Alby, Eolo) medium 5. Flower peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping semi-drooping (Blondy) flowers per leaf axil 1.1 1.1 calyxlobes 7.3 5.7 petals 6.8 6.4 diameter 19.4 mm 24.3 mm corolla colorwhite white corolla throat markings yellow yellow anther color purplepurple style length exceeds stamen exceeds stamen self-incompatibilitypresent present 6. Fruit group Small Hot (Serrano) Jalapeno (Jalapeno)color (before maturity) green (California green wonder, Lamuyo)intensity of color (before dark dark maturity) immature fruit color darkgreen dark green immature fruit color (RHS 137A 144A Color Chart value)attitude/position drooping/pendent drooping/pendent (De Cayenne, Lamuyo)length medium (Fehér, medium Lamuyo) diameter very narrow (De mediumCayenne, Recio) ratio length/diameter large (Heldor, large Lamuyo,Magister, Tenno, Vidi) calyx diameter 15.7 mm 18.9 mm fruit length 131.9mm 72.1 mm fruit diameter at calyx 16.0 mm 23.7 mm attachment fruitdiameter at mid-point 18.4 mm 27.7 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 3.0mm 3.8 mm average number of fruits per 38.7  40.3  plant % large fruits16.50 (weight range: 15.10 (weight 20.5 to 35 g) range 21 to 40 g) %medium fruits 52.40 (weight range: 57.10 (weight 10.5 to 19.5 g) range11 to 20 g) % small fruits 31.10 (weight range: 27.60 (weight 1 to 9.5g) range 1 to 10 g) average fruit weight 13.5 gm 17.5 gm fruit shape(longitudinal narrowly triangular narrowly section) (De Cayenne,triangular Demon) fruit shape (cross section, at circular (Cherrycircular level of placenta) Sweet, Doux très long des Landes) sinuationof pericarp at basal absent or very weak absent or very part (Delphin,Kalocsai weak V-2, Milord) sinuation of pericarp absent or very weakabsent or very excluding basal part (Delphin, Milord) weak texture ofsurface smooth or very smooth or very slightly wrinkled slightlywrinkled (Milord) color (at maturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) red intensityof color (at dark dark maturity) mature fruit color red red mature fruitcolor (RHS  34A  46A Color Chart value) glossiness strong (Doux italien,shiny Trophy) stalk cavity absent (Corinto, absent Corno di toro, Sweetbanana, Sucette de Provence) pedicel length 36 mm 20.1 mm pedicelthickness 3.1 mm 4.3 mm pedicel shape straight curved pedicel cavityabsent absent stalk: length medium (Fehér, medium Sonar) stalk:thickness thin (Sweet banana) medium base shape rounded rounded shape ofapex moderately acute moderately acute shape elongate (Long Thin oblong(Jalapeno) Cayenne) set concentrated scattered depth of interlocularyvery shallow absent grooves number of locules predominantly threeequally three and (Century) four % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruitswith two locules 10%  0% % fruits with three locules 90%  40%  % fruitswith four locules 0% 60%  % fruits with five locules 0% 0% averagenumber of locules 2.9 3.6 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, mediumLamuyo) calyx: aspect enveloping (cup- enveloping (cup- shaped) (Deshaped) Cayenne, Sweet banana) pungency hot hot capsaicin in placentapresent (De Cayenne present mg Capsaicin per gram dry 0.38 mg 0.62 mgfruit Scoville Units (dry fruit) 5,768   8,359   flavor strong pepperflavor strong pepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavitylength 116.4 mm 56.9 mm seed cavity diameter 12.3 mm 19.2 mm placentalength 80.7 mm 41.5 mm number of seeds per fruit 33 mm 64   grams per1000 seeds 5.3 gm 4 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin coloration of:seedling hypocotyl weak moderate stem weak strong node strong(California strong wonder) stem: intensity of antho- strong (Piquantvery strong cyanin coloration of nodes d'Algérie, Zarai) leaf absentabsent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo)present Fruit anthocyanin coloration weak absent beginning of flowering(1^(st) early (Carré doux late flower on 2^(nd) flowering extra hâtif,Cupido, node) Fehér, Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity early(Fehér, Lady late Bell, Topgirl) *These are typical values. Values mayvary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalentare also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid SV3198HJ involving crossing pepper lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020, or line HJA-114-1179 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid SV3198HJ and/or the pepper lines SJR-114-1020 andHJA-114-1179, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid SV3198HJ and/or the pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179.Plants derived from hybrid SV3198HJ and/or the pepper lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV3198HJ followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV3198HJ and/or pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 for thepurpose of developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofpepper plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid SV3198HJ exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by pepper lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid SV3198HJ and pepper lines SJR-114-1020 andHJA-114-1179 were the subject of an objective analysis of theperformance traits relative to other varieties. The results of theanalysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics for Hybrid SV3198HJ Color MaturityYield Length Width Av. wt % dry SHU Variety mature (DAT) g/plt cm cmg/fruit matter fresh TAM Veracruz red 89 448 7.7 3.3 34.6 7.9 635Ballpark red 87 649 9.6 2.5 24.9 7.9 380 SV3198HJ red 85 1048 11.8 2.829.8 8.6 751

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S);1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wun1, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ and inbred parent lines SJR-114-1020and HJA-114-1179, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was Oct. 21, 2103.The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepper hybridSV3198HJ and inbred parent lines SJR-114-1020 and HJA-114-1179 are ATCCAccession No. PTA-120649, ATCC Accession No. PTA-120650, and ATCCAccession No. PTA-120651, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepper line HJA-114-1179,a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-120650 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120651,respectively.
 2. A pepper seed comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepper line HJA-114-1179, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-120650 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120651, respectively. 3.The plant of claim 1, which is an inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, whichis a hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim 2, which is an inbred.
 6. The seed ofclaim 2, which is a hybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybridplant is pepper hybrid SV3198HJ, a sample of seed of said hybridSV3198HJ having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120649.8. The seed of claim 6, defined as a seed of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ, asample of seed of said hybrid SV3198HJ having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-120649.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seedof line SJR-114-1020 or line HJA-114-1179.
 10. A plant part of the plantof claim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf,an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A pepper plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant ofclaim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A pepper plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim 13, wherein said plant comprises all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of the pepper plantcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper lineSJR-114-1020 or pepper line HJA-114-1179, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120650 and ATCCAccession Number PTA-120651, respectively.
 16. A method of vegetativelypropagating the pepper plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a)collecting tissue capable of being propagated from the plant accordingto claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots;and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a firstpepper plant from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing adesired trait into a pepper line comprising: (a) utilizing as arecurrent parent a plant of either pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepperline HJA-114-1179, by crossing a plant of pepper line SJR-114-1020 orpepper line HJA-114-1179 with a second donor pepper plant that comprisesa desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120650, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-120651, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progenythat comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1progeny with a plant of the same pepper line used as the recurrentparent in step (a), to produce backcross progeny; (d) selectingbackcross progeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line usedin step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise thedesired trait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parentpepper line used in step (a).
 19. A pepper plant produced by the methodof claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a pepper plant comprising anadded trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into a plant of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ, pepper lineSJR-114-1020 or pepper line HJA-114-1179, a sample of seed of saidhybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-120649, ATCC Accession Number PTA-120650, and ATCC Accession NumberPTA-120651, respectively.
 21. A pepper plant produced by the method ofclaim
 20. 22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a transgene. 23.The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers a trait selectedfrom the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1,further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plantotherwise comprises essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of the pepper plant comprising at least afirst set of the chromosomes of pepper line SJR-114-1020 or pepper lineHJA-114-1179, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-120650 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120651,respectively.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locusconversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of a pepper plant derivedfrom at least one of pepper hybrid SV3198HJ, pepper line SJR-114-1020 orpepper line HJA-114-1179 comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a pepperplant of hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 or line HJA-114-1179 withitself or a second pepper plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid andlines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120649, ATCCAccession Number PTA-120650, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120651,respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SV3198HJ, lineSJR-114-1020 or line HJA-114-1179-derived pepper plant to form.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plantgrown from said hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 or lineHJA-114-1179-derived pepper seed to yield additional hybrid SV3198HJ,line SJR-114-1020 or line HJA-114-1179-derived pepper seed; (d) growingsaid additional hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 or lineHJA-114-1179-derived pepper seed of step (c) to yield additional hybridSV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 or line HJA-114-1179-derived pepper plants;and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) togenerate at least a first further hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 orline HJA-114-1179-derived pepper plant.
 28. The method of claim 26,wherein the second pepper plant is of an inbred pepper line.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, comprising crossing line SJR-114-1020 with lineHJA-114-1179, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-120650, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-120651,respectively.
 30. The method of claim 27, further comprising: (f)crossing the further hybrid SV3198HJ, line SJR-114-1020 or lineHJA-114-1179-derived pepper plant with a second pepper plant to produceseed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 31. A plant part of the plant of claim7.
 32. The plant part of claim 31, further defined as a leaf, a flower,a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a pepperseed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a secondpepper plant and allowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing apepper fruit comprising: (a) obtaining the plant according to claim 1,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting apepper from the plant.